How long after giving birth can I have sex?

Many people don’t know how long they can have sex after giving birth, which makes them very confused. In fact, you absolutely cannot share the same bed right after giving birth. You need to at least wait until you have completed the confinement period before you can have sex. This way, you will avoid bacterial infection in your vagina during sex. In addition, the mother also needs to maintain good living habits at ordinary times.

The maternal systems undergo significant changes during the postpartum period. Although these changes are physiological, there are large wounds in the uterus and the mammary glands have active secretory functions, making them prone to infection and other pathological conditions. You need to pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene, and strengthen postpartum care so that your body can recover as soon as possible.

1. Maintain good living habits

Establish a good rest environment and pay attention to hygiene. The indoor temperature is suitable, 18-20℃, with fresh air and good ventilation. Even in winter, you should open windows for ventilation for a certain period of time to keep the air fresh, but be careful to avoid direct wind. After delivery, there will be lochia discharge from the vagina. You should pay attention to keeping the vulva clean, wash the vulva with warm water every day, and change underwear and sanitary pads frequently. Avoid wounds after defecation and urination, and wipe them from front to back with clean toilet paper. Be careful not to go in the opposite direction to prevent bacteria around the anus from flowing back and causing infection.

2. Pay attention to mood changes

After experiencing the excitement and tension of pregnancy and childbirth, the mother is extremely relaxed; the worry about feeding the baby; the discomfort during the postpartum period can all cause emotional instability, especially in the 3 to 5 days after delivery, which may manifest as mild depression. The mother should be helped to relieve physical discomfort, and given spiritual care, encouragement, and comfort to restore her self-confidence.

3. Diet

Because childbirth consumes a lot of physical energy, the organs in the body need to recover, the mother's digestive ability is weakened, and she needs to secrete milk for the growth of the newborn, so dietary nutrition is very important. One hour after delivery, the mother can eat liquid food or light semi-liquid food, and then eat normal food. Food should be nutritious, adequate in calories and water. If you are breastfeeding, you should eat more protein and soup, and take appropriate vitamin and iron supplements.

4. Urinating and defecating

Be alert to postpartum urinary retention. The urine volume will increase significantly within 5 days after delivery, and the mother should be encouraged to urinate as soon as possible. The mother should be allowed to urinate within 4 hours after delivery. If urination is difficult, the fear of pain caused by urination should be eliminated and the mother should be encouraged to sit up to urinate. Hot water can be used to fumigate the vulva and warm water can be used to wash the area around the urethra to induce urination. Place a hot water bottle in the middle of the lower abdomen to massage the bladder and stimulate the bladder muscle contraction. Pay attention to constipation: eat more vegetables and get out of bed and move around as soon as possible. If constipation occurs, you should take laxatives orally, insert suppositories into the rectum, or use soapy water enema.

5. Observe uterine involution and lochia

The height of the uterine fundus should be measured manually at the same time every day to understand the daily involution process of the uterus. Before measurement, the mother should be advised to urinate, and the uterus should be massaged to contract it, and then the distance from the upper edge of the pubic symphysis to the fundus of the uterus should be measured.